Straw mat



Ocrt. 23, l934 J. P. cRoAsDALE, JR., ET AL 1,978,103

STRAW MAT Filed OC'L. l5. 1931 the` stalksA as above stated ini bundlesand when Patented oci. 23, 1934 VPn'rlazrii OFFICE f Application october15, 1931, serial No .`56s,936

NNum'rrzo STATES 9 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in strawv mats for wind-breaks,cold frame covers andthe like, or for any form of covering for which itmay be adapted. These mats `are light in weight,

;5 strong and durable and 4especially resistant to weather conditions. pY

I They are preferably made of full length rye straw.

-In accordance with this inventionthe mat com- :110 prises a pluralityof relatively small bundles of stalks of straw having where desirablethe heads of the stalksoverlapping in the middle of the mat.` The`stalks are held) together in bundles by a plurality of courses formed ofparallel strands M1@ extending longitudinally in spaced relationship.

Each course comprises an upper and lowerstrand in knotted relationship,while the strands are under tension. Thesaid strands also hold thebundles in close association to` form the mat.

The method consists essentially in assembling desirable with theheadsfoverlapping so that the butts of the stalks form the outsidemargins. AThe bundlespso formed are laid transversely upon a `'seriesofparallel strands` preferably ofv strong weather resisting fiber, heldin evenly spaced parallel lines under spring tension, so that whenanuppefr strand is brought around the `bundle andoverhand knotted withthe under strand the 3 0 tension exerted by the spring upon the strandsreacts to cause tension upon the bundle embracing lstrands `ashereinafter more fully described.

` Referring `to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of examplesuitable means for effecting the invention;-

scale, of a bobbin to be usedin connection therewith.

Fig. `3` isa VView in perspective of one side of a `portion orfragmentof the completed mat. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other side. Fig.`5 is a View on an enlarged scale of a portion` of a *bundle beforeapplying the strands thereto. l

"Fig, 6'i's -a fragmentary section on line 6, 6 ofFig. 3; l 1

Fig. .7 is a similar view, showing the tying operation. Similar numeralsrefer to similar parts throughoutthe several views.

`As a convenient means for use in manufacturing @the mat, `we haveshown, in Fig. 1, a rectangular frame 7. `'lhisframe is shown asmade,\".`for example, of suitabletubing, sleeves and elbows. The frameis supported at its four corners onQvertical legs 8, each legprovided atthe bottom thereof with flanged foot piece 9, forsecuring to the floor.This makes a Very firm andrigid structure. The frame '7 is `for examplesix or more f vfeet long, and `three or more feet wide for Ia mat ofapproximately corresponding dimensions. At the left hand end of frameil, I have shown a series of helical springs 10 spaced about six inchesapart, andthree inches from the side rails or-bars 11. These springs 10maybe conveniently secured in holes drilled in the end barV 12. Across-bar 14, is secured tothe sleeves l5 which are adapted to 70slideon the side'bars 11 from one end to the other of the frame 7. Thesleeves 15 arepreferably provided with anti-friction means forfacilitating their movement upon the side bars 11. This cross-bar 14 isprovided with a number vof eyelets 75 or guides 16 spaced apartcorrespondingly with thesprings 10. The end bar 1'7, at the other end offramed, is provided with a number of securing means 18, such as cleatsor hooks.- These cleats are similarly spaced apart, with respect to theso springs and eyelets.

`Atthe left hand end of the frame 7, and about six inches below the topplane thereof, is vsecured the flanged shelf 19. This shelf may beconveniently secured to a pair of the uprightsl or legs 8, and madeadjustable thereon if desired.

Cords or strands 20 are provided, at one end, with loops 21 which areconnected to hooks at the free end of the springs 10. The strands 20 arethen threaded or otherwise engaged in the corresponding guides l6and theother ends of said strands are secured to the cleats 18, at the righthand .end of the frame '7. In connecting the strands to elements 18 thesprings are brought under as nearly as possible` equal tension, so thatall the strands 20, when so connected, will have approximately equaltension. 'Ihe strands "20 may be made of'any suitable ilexible material.We have found strands of strong weather resistant twisted fiber to provesatisfactory, and the knots made in connection therewith have a tendencyto hold their positions during the process of manufacturing the mat.

Secured to these strands 20, at or adjacent the loops 21, are otherstrands 22, preferably about three .times as long as strands 20. Eachstrandy 22 is wound upon a separate spool or bobbin 23, which ismanipulated by the operator. l Each bobbin` is of sufficient size toholdthe required `amount of strand 22, 'Y y 1,10

We have found that when a strand breaks, it is liable to becomedisengaged from several of the knots but that when a strand 22 breaksthe adjacent knots tend to hold the balance of said strand in place. Wetherefore prefer to make strands 20 of double ply, or comprising twocords.

In operation- Two operators are advantageously employed, one on eachside of the frame, each operating on three courses. The bobbins 23 areconveniently placed in proper order upon the shelf 19. Each operatortakes a component part of a bundle of straw, measuring, when slightlycompressed, about three quarters of an inch in diameter at the butts,and places it upon the strands 20 parallel with end bar 12 and close tothe loops 21, thus forming a single bundle with the head ends of thestalks overlapping. The butts of the stalks should project beyond theside bar 11.

Each operator then takes up the third bobbin from his side, passes itover the bundle, then under the corresponding strand 20 and makes anoverhand knot of strand 22 with strand 20, pulling it tightly againstthe side of the bundle thus com pressing the same. There is also aslight yielding of the spring 10 in response to the pull in thisoperation, which reacts when the knot is completed, and tends to holdthe same in position until the next bundle is pulled into place.

The function of the spring is thus two-fold. It prevents excessivestrain upon the strand, and serves as a take up to` hold the knot tightwhen completed.

1t will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 7, that the strand 22 ispassed over the straw bundle,

' l then under the strand 20 and then through the loop thus formed. Whenthe free end of strand 22 is pulled tight, the loop is contracted tocompress the straw bundle. The strand portions cross each other on eachside of each loop, as Shown in Fig. 6, and are rmly clamped togetherbetween adjacent portions of the compressed straw bundles. As thestrands sink partially into the straw, it follows that said crossingportions are practically embedded in the straw under pressure and arethus locked in position not only during the operation upon the nextsucceeding straw bundle but after completion of the fabric.

Thus, even in case a strand should be broken or severed at any point inthe completed fabric, the locking engagement of the strands on each sideof each bundle prevents or retards disintegration of the fabric. n

Upon the completion of the operation just described, the second remotebobbins aresimilarly operated with their corresponding strands 20, andthen the last bobbin which is nearest to each operator. When the rstbundle is thus secured between the strands 20 and 22, the operation isrepeated with succeeding bundles until the desired length of mat iscompleted. The guide bar 14 is kept as close as convenient to the bundlebeing operated upon, in order to keep the strands 20 evenly spacedthroughout the operation. As the operation upon each bundle iscompleted, the forward margin of the bundle should be approximatelyparallel with the crossbar 14, and when there occurs a variation fromthe parallel line, the operator soon learns to add to, or diminish hisportion of the succeeding bundle, sufficiently to maintain saidparallelism. When the last bundle is secured in place the strands 20 and22 are further secured together with a square knot.

The edges of the completed mat overhanging the side bars 11 are thentrimmed to a smooth straight edge by shears, machine saw or othercutting tool most suitable and convenient for the purpose. The mat isnow completed and may be removed from the frame.

It will be noted that this mat is composed of a number of parallelbundles of straw, the stalks of each bundle being bound together at aplurality of separated points, by upper and under strands knottedtogether between each bundle, and that the bundles are held in closeassociation by the said strands.

It will also be noted that the strands 20 upon one side of the mat aresubstantially straight, While the strands 22 on the other side, formlarches over and around each bundle and are looped or knotted to thestraight strands, as indicated in Fig. 6. The points of engagement ofthe arched strands with the straight strands form convenient pivot lineswhich facilitate the flexure of the mat.

What we claim is 1. The method of making straw mats, which consists inplacing bundles of straw stalks upon and across a plurality of parallelstrands, held under substantially equal tension, bringing other strandsovei` the bundle and each under a corresponding first strand, knottingone strand with the other and drawing the knot to compress the bundle,repeating the operation with lsucceeding straw bundles until therequired length of mat is completed.

2. The method of making straw mats, which consists in forming bundles ofstraw stalks with their head ends overlapping at the middle part thereofand placing said bundles upon and across a plurality of parallel strandsheld under substantially equal spring tension, bringing other strandsover the bundle and each under a corresponding rst strand, knotting onestrand with the other and drawing the knot to compress the bundle,repeating the operation with succeeding straw bundles until the requiredlength of mat is completed.

3. The method of making a straw fabric, which consists in placing abundle of straw upon and across a plurality of parallel strands,bringing other strands over the bundle and engaging each over-strandwith an under-strand with a slip knot and drawing upon the knot tocompress the bundle so that the pressure of the bundle will react uponthe crossed portions of the overstrand, and repeating the operation withsucceeding straw bundles until the required length of fabric iscompleted.

4. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles and securingstrands arranged on opposite sides thereof and transverse the stalks ofstraw, the strands on one side being curved to embrace the bundles, andengaging the strands on the other side with slip knots between thebundles, whereby the stalks of each bundle are bound together undercompression and the bundles are secured together in fabric formingrelationship.

5. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles and securingstrands arranged on opposite rsides thereof and transverse the stalks ofstraw, the strands on one side curvedto embrace the bundles, andengaging Atheir respective strands on the other side with overhand slipknots between the bundles, whereby the stalks of each bundle are boundtogether under compression and the bundles are secured together infabric forming relationship.

6. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles and securingstrands arranged on opposite sides thereof and transverse the stalks ofstraw, the strands on one side maintained substantially straight and inthe plane of said side, while the strands on the other side are curvedto embrace the bundles, and engage the straight strands with slip knotsbetween the bundles, whereby the stalks of each bundle are boundtogether under compression and the bundles are secured together infabric forming relationship.

7. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles and bindingcords arranged on opposite sides thereof, the cords on.` one side beingcurved and embracing each bundle and engaging the cords on the otherside by means of slip knots, so that portions of the curved cords arecrossed between the bundles whereby the stalks of each bundle are boundtogether at separated points under compression, and the bundles aresecured together in fabric forming relationship.

8. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles, and bindingcords arranged on opposite sides thereof, the cords on one sideconforming substantially to the plane of said side, the cords on theother si'de being curved and embracing each bundle and engaging theirrespective cords on the opposite side by means of slip knots between thebundles, whereby the stalks of each bundle are bound together atseparated points under compression, and the bundles are secured togetherin fabric forming relationship.

9. A straw fabric, comprising a plurality of straw bundles, and bindingcords arranged on opposite sides thereof, the cords on one side beingplural strand, the cords on the other side being curved and embracingeach bundle and en gaging their respective plural strand cords by meansof slip knots between the bundles whereby the stalks of each bundle arebound together at separated points under compression, and the bun-

